CLAYTON 鈥 The 51黑料 County assessor on Wednesday called on the owners of the former Northwest Plaza to drop their 鈥渁ppalling鈥 tax appeal on sections of the revitalized St. Ann commercial center.
County Assessor Jake Zimmerman said schools, emergency services and other public entities would lose about $116,000 a year if owners Robert and P. David Glarner 鈥 who donated $365,000 to former County Executive Steve Stenger 鈥 won their appeal.
鈥淥ther taxpayers in North County pay their fair share. So should the Glarners,鈥 Zimmerman said in a statement. 鈥淓veryone who plays by the normal rules should be disgusted.鈥
A spokesman for the Glarners said the brothers disagree with the assessment and will 鈥渁ccept the result of their appeal.鈥 He did not discuss dropping it.
Zimmerman鈥檚 public plea is just the latest consequence of the pay-to-play scandal that has roiled county government and led to Stenger鈥檚 federal indictment.
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In June 2016, Stenger鈥檚 office sent a letter asking the County Council to approve an unprecedented real estate deal 鈥 a two-decade commitment to rent more than 150,000 square feet at the former mall site, a mixed-use commercial center now known as The Crossings at Northwest.
Stenger said the deal would consolidate county offices and save taxpayers $10 million. But Stenger鈥檚 figures misled the County Council, a Post-Dispatch investigation later discovered: Taxpayers would pay more at The Crossings than at the old county offices. Expenses would rise annually. And the county had to cover its share of property taxes at The Crossings.
The newspaper鈥檚 analysis determined the contract was worth at least $69 million and as much as $77 million, with no ability for the county to back out.
Stenger repeatedly denied that Glarner donations influenced the deal.
Last month, Stenger was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of theft of honest services, for operating a 鈥減ay-to-play鈥 scheme for county contracts, largely involving local businessman and Stenger donor John Rallo. On May 3, Stenger pleaded guilty to three federal counts that could earn him three to four years in prison. Days later, Rallo was indicted on three felony counts of honest services fraud. And a day after that, the former county economic development chief, Sheila Sweeney, pleaded guilty to covering up Stenger鈥檚 schemes.
The county鈥檚 lease for space at The Crossings was not mentioned in Stenger鈥檚 indictment. But it has long been in the County Council鈥檚 crosshairs. Last week, new County Executive Sam Page urged the Glarners to renegotiate the deal or risk its voiding.
Zimmerman鈥檚 call on Wednesday further focuses scrutiny on the Glarners.
The brothers are appealing the taxes on three units at 702 Northwest Plaza Drive, Zimmerman said. Some of the units were partly finished as of the assessment date. Others were leased and occupied. None are those are occupied by county offices.
Businesses often appeal property values of buildings they own, in hopes of saving hundreds of thousands of dollars or more a year. But Zimmerman said the Glarners should waive their rights to file any other tax appeals on the property.
鈥淭hese guys want to collect rent from the taxpayers with one hand, while reducing their taxes with the other,鈥 Zimmerman said in the statement.
Zimmerman said his office has 鈥渢horoughly studied鈥 the Northwest units and stands by its assessments. A county hearing officer has already heard the Glarners鈥 claim and determined it was not credible. The county鈥檚 Board of Equalization agreed and ruled in favor of the county.
The Glarners鈥 appeal to the State Tax Commission is scheduled for June 19 at 51黑料 County administration offices. Zimmerman is urging taxpayers to attend.
